RUDOLPH KADHIKWAImprisoned for Life (Original biographical information included with his bracelet in 1985)

Rudolph Kadhikwa is a member of SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Organization). SWAPO is the primary liberation movement in Namibia. There are believed to be nearly 50 Namibian prisoners on Robben Island and it has been claimed that almost as many again are in other prisons in South Africa. There are 17 Namibians serving life sentences in South Africa, and are included in the South African Political Prisoner Bracelet Program. Thirty-seven SWAPO members were arrested in 1966 in Namibia and flown secretly to Pretoria, South Africa. They were held in detention until charged in 1967 (retroactively) under the South African Terrorism Act for conspiring to incite revolution and armed resistance to the administration in Namibia, receiving military training, encouraging others to do so, and entering Namibia armed to create violent revolution. The United Nations condemned the trial as a violation of Namibia’s international status. Although some of the defendants were originally sentenced to life imprisonment, their sentenced was reduced upon appeal. Other defendants were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment or less. Kadhikwa and 14 others were sentenced to life and are serving that sentence on Robben Island. In 1969, two other SWAPO members were sentenced to life. ___________The source of this biographical information is International Defence and Aid Fund’s book, Prisoners of Apartheid, 1978. We appreciate their permission to use this material.